Nani Bregvadze

Nani Bregvadze is a notable Georgian singer and actress regarded for her stage presence and nuanced renditions of Georgian and Russian songs. She was born Nani Georgievna Bregvadze in 1938, in Tbilisi, Georgia, Soviet Union. Her father, Georgi Efremovich Bregvadze, was an engineer turned actor. Her mother, Olga Aleksandrovna Mikeladze, was an amateur pianist, coming from Georgian nobility. Young Nani Bragvadze was one of five sisters brought up in a highly intellectual environment of her family. From her noble parents, Bregvadze inherited a good disposition, and learned to acknowledge good in all people. Young Nani Bregvadze was fond of music. She studied singing with her aunt and mother, then attended a school of music in Tbilisi. She made her stage debut at the 1957 World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow. There she was noticed by Leonid Utyosov, who recommended her to continue singing professionally. From 1958 - 1963 she studied singing and piano at the Tbilisi State Conservatory, graduating in 1963 as a concert pianist and singer. At first she was torn between two professions, one as a concert pianist and another as a singer, but her artistic career was decided by impresario Bruno Coquatrix, who invited Bregvadze to Paris as a singer. During the mid-1960s she was touring as a singer with the Moscow Music Hall, making concert appearances in Moscow, and in Olympia, in Paris, France. From 1965 - 1980 she toured all over the world as a member of the "Orera" vocal ensemble based in Tbilisi, Georgia. Since 1980 she has been touring with her solo performances. Bregvadze amassed a repertoire of several hundred songs, covering a wide range of styles from a variety of cultures. She has been singing in several languages, making most success with her impeccable interpretations of Georgian traditional folk songs as well as intimate Russian romance classics. In recognition of her art, Nani Bregvadze was designated People's Actor of the USSR, People's Actor of Georgia, and was awarded the State Prize of Georgia for her contribution to culture. Her records sold millions of copies worldwide. She is Honorable Citizen of Tbilisi, Georgia, and the city of Benalmadena, Spain. Outside of her acting profession, Bregvadze is a devoted follower of yoga and organic lifestyle, and an avid reader of classical literature. Nani Bregvadze has been regarded for her finesse in communication to cross-cultural audiences. Her sincere, intimate delivery and a rare ability to reveal the hidden beauty of lyrics and melodies has been appealing to large international audiences. She shares her time between her two homes, one in Tbilisi, Georgia, and one in Moscow, Russia.